Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor. "A History of Central Washington,
Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys."
Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929. p. 296.
H. G. DeTILLION
an active and resolute character, has been a resident of Washington full
forty years, having come to the Territory when he was ten years of age. The
first generation of DeTillions of this family joined a French colony at
Gallipolis in the Ohio River Valley more than 100 years ago. The family made the
great trip westward on board an emigrant train of 27 cars, with two locomotives
to move it across country, and an extra iron horse to cross the Rocky Mountains.
There always appeared to be a ceremony of preparation in these mountain climbs.
Fresh and shining locomotives would be led forth like spirited horses equipped
for battle, and as the restless iron steeds addressed themselves to motion and
toiled with their great load up the steep grades with panting exhausts of flame
and smoke that echoed and reechoed through vast mountain gorges, that long train
seemed transformed into a living thing more terrible than the fabled monsters of
old. To a boy such as was our subject, such an experience was something to be
treasured. Young DeTillion stopped for a short time in Spokane, but soon settled
in Lincoln County, where he continued to live for many years, and where his
parents are still living. In 1920, Mr. DeTillion came to Chelan County, and now
lives well up in the mountains close to Colocken Pass. In 1920 he was married to
Miss Tena Ingrebretson, a native of the Red River Valley, in Minnesota. Five
children have been born to this union; Vennie, Glenn, Zora, Johnnie and Mary,
all of whom live in Chelan County. During the past two years Johnnie has been a
student of Wenatchee High School.
The postoffice of the DeTillions in Lincoln County is Miles, named for
General Miles, and is located near what was Fort Spokane. It was at this point
in the early history of the Territory that General Miles and Custer through a
treaty with the Spokane Indians obtained 1000 acres of land and the privilege to
erect thereon Fort Spokane. This fort was abandoned many years ago and the
portable property removed to Fort Wright. Mr. DeTillion when a boy attended
school at the old Mission at Colville. He mentions the Indian, Bob Stemilt, who
at one time lived near the mouth of Stemilt Creek, and is now a neighbor to his
father. Our subject in his young days was a close student of Indian history in
Eastern Washington, and has an extensive knowledge of the tribes that were once
numerous and powerful, it is reported that the Spokane Chamber of Commerce has
planned to place suitable markings indicating early landmarks in Eastern
Washington, among which will be a monument of Chief Moses in Moses Coulee.
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in November 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.